
~Findings show that school spirit significantly contributes to students’ overall success~
DALLAS - Varsity Brands, the market leader in sport and spirit, today published its The Power of School Spirit: Elevating Student Wellbeing and Academic Success, which explores the connections between school spirit and student achievement.
In collaboration with Teneo Research, the opinion research and data analytics arm of the global advisory firm Teneo, Varsity Brands conducted a comprehensive study across the nation's high schools to understand the latest perspectives on the value of school spirit and its impact on the educational ecosystem. The research, which was fielded from December 2023 to February 2024, involved 1,075 respondents, including 300 high school students (grades 10-12), 300 parents of high school students (grades 10-12), 315 administrators (comprising high school superintendents, principals, etc.), and 160 coaches nationwide.
The findings outlined in the white paper highlight that school spirit significantly contributes to students’ overall success. Students with higher school spirit perform above average academically, are more likely to pursue higher education, are more resilient to obstacles, and develop lifelong skills such as leadership and relationship building. The full paper can be accessed here.
The key findings of the white paper are as follows:
- Greater school spirit leads to a multitude of academic and developmental benefits for students:
- Stronger school spirit boosts students’ resiliency against negative outcomes:
- Promoting student engagement in activities and stronger school-branding efforts are key to growing spirit:
- Benefits go beyond the classroom, as school engagement also drives inclusion and acceptance:
- Schools participating in the Varsity Brands’
“Our goal is to create the next generation of leaders, and it starts in our schools. At Varsity Brands, we see school spirit as a powerful driver of positive change,” says Varsity Brands CEO, Adam Blumenfeld. “It is proven that school spirit inspires resilience, helps students navigate difficult times, and strengthens their sense of community. As the foremost champion of school spirit, we are committed to nurturing students to become leaders and pillars of their communities, and we are ecstatic that the results speak to this.”
Since its founding in 1972, Varsity Brands’ mission is to elevate experiences for the youth of today and tomorrow through its divisions, BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit. By fostering passion, enthusiasm, and community engagement, Varsity Brands continues to create an environment where students can thrive and transform into community heroes.
About Varsity Brands
Varsity Brands is the premier provider of customizable team sports, cheer, dance, band, and yearbook services, experiences, and products. The company’s mission is to elevate the student experience, positively impacting the lives of over 55 million young people nationwide. Its divisions—BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit—champion youth participation and celebrate their achievements, fostering passion, enthusiasm, and community engagement. The company serves elementary, middle, and high schools, colleges, universities, gyms, club select teams, and professional sports. Explore how Varsity Brands is shaping the future of youth engagement and making a difference in the lives of young people across the country at varsitybrands.com.
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